Leeds United: Whites fall to Deepdale defeat after Preston comeback

Leeds United fell to a 3-1 defeat in the Championship on Tuesday night

It was the hosts who started the better of the two teams as Tom Barkhuizen saw an effort sail just over the bar in the opening exchanges. Alex Neil's men continued to push forward but it was the Whites who opened the scoring through Kemar Roofe as he returned to the starting line-up for the first time following a calf injury.

A Pablo Hernandez corner fell to fellow midfielder Kalvin Phillips who worked himself wide to drill a thunderous cross into the area which found the striker all alone at the back post to tap home from close-range.

North End again went close as Sean Maguire failed to keep his headed effort on target, before Barkhuizen once again went close as he smashed Bailey Peacock-Farrell's post with a shot from just inside the box.

Paul Heckingbottom's men though remained a threat at the other end as Roofe almost doubled the lead right on the stroke of half-time. Hernandez played a delightful ball into the area that just evaded the forward as Declan Rudd collected in the North End goal as the referee blew for the break.

It took the hosts just four minutes to level proceedings following the interval as Vurnon Anita hauled down striker Billy Bodin inside the box leaving winger Paul Gallagher to slot home the resulting spot kick.

Three minutes later and it turned from bad to worse for Leeds as Gallagher turned provider to swing in a lovely ball from a short corner that left defender Maguire to make no mistake this time with the United goal at his mercy to flick his header home past the stranded Peacock-Farrell.

United were left stunned at the turnaround but did manage to muster chances through Hernandez and Ronaldo Vieira before time was up with Rudd matching their efforts on both occasions.

As Leeds pressed on North End seized their chance to end the contest and it was Alan Browne who sealed all three points for the hosts with a looping header which breathed life into the hosts play-off hopes once again.